A Câmera do Hortelino

This early cartoon directed by Charles M. Jones (better known as Chuck Jones) features the first appearance of the short's title character with the voice and facial features though he's a little heavier here and still has traces of his predecessor, Egghead. His nemesis is a rabbit who looks a little like Bugs Bunny except his face is pink and he sounds more like Goofy with a laugh like Woody Woodpeckeer (no surprise since Mel Blanc also did that bird during this time). Elmer's trying to take wildlife pictures but keeps getting pranked on by the rabbit. A pretty amusing dry run for the hunting pictures started by Tex Avery's A Wild Hare, this cartoon should be seen at least for historical value. It's on disc 3 of The Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Vol. 1.

I am a great fan of Looney Tunes, so I was all for seeing Elmer's Candid Camera. It is one of Elmer Fudd's first cartoons, but sadly it is not one of his best. It is not completely terrible, the animation is very beautifully coloured and detailed and the music is wonderfully orchestrated and lively in tempo which helps to give Elmer's Candid Camera some energy. Mel Blanc and Arthur Q Bryan are great, though they is even better in later cartoons, and Elmer is still rather likable. However, the rabbit character that looks like Bugs but doesn't act like Bugs is not very likable, he lacks verve and he is too sadistic at times as well. The humour also feels flabby rather than funny, the dialogue is not as fresh or as witty and the gags not as clever or imaginative. The story was a good idea but drags badly in the middle that the cartoon lacks momentum. There was the sense that everything was trying to find its feet. Overall, could have been much more, it's not a complete disgrace but it is towards the "my least favourite" end of the Looney Tunes spectrum. 5/10 Bethany Cox

ELMER'S CANDID CAMERA (1940) is the debut of Elmer Fudd and the Bugs Bunny prototype. Woody Woodpecker is much better suited to that annoying and painful shriek of a laugh. Elmer? He's better than the rabbit at least. Besides, what is it with that sadistic rabbit? All Elmer wanted to do is take pictures. Except for those small flaws, and the weird, primitive animation, I have no complaints about ELMER'S CANDID CAMERA.

This is a very important film historically speaking. It's the first appearance for Elmer Fudd as well as Bugs Bunny. As for Elmer, he looks a bit different and instead of shooting rabbits, this one's a pacifist and just wants to photograph rabbits. And, as for Bugs, he's still an unnamed character and looks a bit difference from Bugs. Plus, he's got a darned annoying laugh--one that sounds a lot like Woody Woodpecker. Fortunately, this was soon dropped!

The cartoon is very ordinary at best. I think that having Elmer be a nice guy instead of a guy toting a gun was a big mistake--and one they soon corrected. This is because it makes the rabbit a real jerk--and not particularly likable. Worth seeing for historical reasons but otherwise only fair.

Elmer Fudd is reading "How To Photograph Wildlife" and he's ready. He has all the equipment, from tripod to flashbulbs. He heads out into the beautiful countryside. The first thing he sees are "wabbit twacks, er, rabbit tracks.

The rest of the cartoon is basically Fudd trying to photograph the rabbit (a forerunner of Bugs Bunny) but very little happens. I didn't anything funny in here....nothing. There were a few odd things, like th rabbit putting his elbow in Elmer's butt (really) but nothing humorous.

The only good aspect of this early Elmer Fudd cartoon is the artwork and colors. Bright, bold colors in the foreground and nice watercolor-like drawings in the back (reminiscent of "Bambi") were the only highlights of this animated short. However, it was obvious that the characters we all know - Fudd and Bugs Bunny - were in the early stages of development.